# “I wish physical media was here to stay”: As Sony reports 82% digital PlayStation sales, ex-Blizzard boss says “the purchasing trend from consumers is clear”

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/i-wish-physical-media-was-here-to-stay-as-sony-reports-82-digital-playstation-sales-ex-blizzard-boss-says-the-purchasing-trend-from-consumers-is-clear/
- Published: 2026-07-31T21:21:54+00:00
- Updated: 2026-07-31T22:21:12+00:00
- Original publisher: GamesRadar+
- Original article: https://www.gamesradar.com/games/i-wish-physical-media-was-here-to-stay-as-sony-reports-82-percent-digital-playstation-sales-ex-blizzard-boss-says-the-purchasing-trend-from-consumers-is-clear/
- Topics: Entertainment, Gaming

## Key points

- Digital purchases made up 82% of PlayStation game sales.
- Mike Ybarra says consumer demand favours digital games.
- The shift renews concerns about physical media and ownership.

## Summary

Sony has reported that 82% of PlayStation game sales were digital, prompting renewed discussion about the future of boxed games. Former Blizzard president Mike Ybarra said he would prefer physical media to remain available, but argued that consumer buying habits clearly favour digital purchases.

The figure reflects PlayStation’s growing reliance on downloads rather than discs, which can offer convenience but raises concerns over ownership, resale and long-term access to games. Ybarra’s comments acknowledge that, despite enthusiasm for physical releases among some players, the market is increasingly moving towards digital distribution.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.